List of tallest buildings on Long Island explained

Long Island, New York, is not known for having many tall buildings. As a suburban region, residents and local governments have generally opposed proposals to construct tall buildings, to distinguish it from neighboring Queens and Brooklyn, which are geographically part of Long Island but are part of New York City. Most of the tallest buildings were constructed by government entities, who are exempt from local zoning regulations.

Long Island has one building taller than, the Stony Brook University Hospital tower, and at least four other buildings taller than 200 feet, including Nassau University Medical Center and the Alfonse M. D'Amato United States Courthouse. Long Island has no cluster of high-rises dense enough to create an urban landscape, although there are regions with a larger number of scattered high-rises. A number of non-building structures are also prominent, such as the 620feet stacks of the Northport Power Station.

This article covers buildings in Nassau County and Suffolk County. Buildings in Queens and in Brooklyn are listed in their own articles, as the New York City boroughs are conventionally excluded from cultural definitions of Long Island.

Overview

Long Island has few tall buildings, in contrast to neighboring New York City. Long Island's identity as the birthplace of suburbia involves a desire to maintain the opposite of an urban landscape, with a flat landscape where high-rises are seen to be eyesores that clash with their surroundings, and even three-story buildings can provoke opposition.[1] This has been characterized as a desire to prevent Long Island from being "Queensified", referring to the neighboring New York City borough. The North Shore Towers complex of three 32-story apartment buildings, immediately over the border from Nassau County in Queens, has been often cited as the kind of development Long Islanders seek to avoid.[2]

It has been noted that since most buildings are lower than the trees, views from the few tall buildings consists almost of treetops punctuated by water towers. The buildings themselves are generally regarded as being architecturally undistinguished.

As of 1974, there were 107 municipal zoning codes on Long Island, most of which limited buildings to four stories; in 2016 there were 175 zoning and building districts, stymieing the construction of tall buildings. Most tall buildings on Long Island have been built by the state or county rather than private developers, as they are exempt from these local codes. The opposition to high-rises also had a racial element, being stereotypically associated with minority residents.

Patterns of development

While Long Island has no cluster of high-rises dense enough to create an urban landscape, there are regions with a larger number of scattered high-rises. One is the region in and around northern Uniondale in central Nassau County, including Hofstra University's library and six dormitory buildings, Nassau University Medical Center, Nassau Community College, four office buildings, and a hotel. Another cluster of mid-rise apartment buildings is along the waterfront in Long Beach.

A handful of tall buildings are part of former state psychiatric institutions scattered around Suffolk County, including Edgewood State Hospital (now demolished), Kings Park Psychiatric Center, and Pilgrim Psychiatric Center.

Long Island also has several non-building structures, including broadcast antennas, smokestacks, and water towers. The most prominent of these are the four 620-foot stacks of the Northport Power Station, and other power plants constructed by the Long Island Lighting Company.

History

In the mid 20th century, Democrats generally favored more high-rises, while Republicans opposed them. In the late 2000s, the Lighthouse Project proposal to construct a 60-story tower, later changed to two 30-story towers, near Nassau Coliseum was vigorously opposed.[3]

The 21st century saw the beginning of a movement in certain regions towards transit-oriented development around Long Island Rail Road stations, with 11,000 housing units approved in the nine years preceding 2016. The villages of Hempstead and Mineola were seen as being particularly receptive to taller residential buildings, along with Great Neck Plaza, Glen Cove, Long Beach, Farmingdale, Ronkonkoma, Riverhead, and Riverside. On the other hand, the proposed Nassau Hub development surrounding Nassau Coliseum is envisioned as a "walkable, engaging suburban downtown" with no buildings over 100 feet.[4] Increasing the number of rental units, which are rare in the region, was seen as important to attracting young adults and thus employers, as well as retaining older residents who might otherwise relocate to Florida.

Buildings

This table lists buildings higher than . A building is defined as a structure with walls and a roof.

data-sort-type="text" Name
(Former names)
Imagedata-sort-type="number" Heightdata-sort-type="number" Floorsdata-sort-type="number" Openeddata-sort-type="text" LocationNotesdata-sort-type="number" CoordinatesRefs
Stony Brook University Hospital360feet161976Stony BrookTallest building in suburban Long Island, Suffolk County, and Town of Brookhaven[5] [6] [7] [8]
Nassau University Medical Center299feet191974East MeadowTallest building in Nassau County and Town of Hempstead[9] [10]
Alfonse M. D'Amato United States Courthouse240feet122000Central IslipTallest building in Town of Islip[11]
Jones Beach Water Tower231feetN/A1929Jones Beach State Park[12]
Edgewood State Hospital Building 102229feet131942Deer ParkDemolished; former tallest building in Town of Babylon[13] [14]
Robert Moses State Park Water Tower208feetN/A1968Robert Moses State Park[15]
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Building 93193feet131939Kings ParkTallest building in Town of Smithtown[16] [17]
Hofstra University
Constitution Hall
184feet151967UniondaleSecond tallest building in the town of Hempstead
Hofstra University
Estabrook Hall
184feet151967Uniondale
Hofstra University
Enterprise Hall
184feet151968Uniondale
Hofstra University
Vander Poel Hall
184feet151968Uniondale
AT&T Site Tower176feet111970Dix HillsTallest building in Town of Huntington[18]
RXR Plaza
(EAB Plaza)
175feet151983UniondaleTwo towers of equal height[19]
H. Lee Dennison Administration Building175feet121969Hauppauge[20] [21]
Hofstra University
Alliance Hall
171feet131966Uniondale
Hofstra University
Bill of Rights Hall
171feet131966Uniondale
St. Agnes Cathedral168feetN/A1935Rockville Centre[22]
Cathedral of the Incarnation165feetN/A1885Garden City[23]
Fire Island Lighthouse164feetN/A1858Fire Island National Seashore[24]
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Building 7160feet131966Kings Park[25] [26]
Long Island MacArthur Airport control tower159feet2011RonkonkomaAt left in photo[27]
Nassau Community College Administrative Tower146feet121978Uniondale[28]
Hofstra University
Axinn Library
140feet111967Hempstead[29]
Long Island Marriott135feet111982Uniondale
North Shore University Hospital132feet101976Manhasset[30] [31]
10 West Apartments
(Avalon Towers)
111990Long Beach[32] [33]
One Third Avenue112016MineolaTallest building in Town of North Hempstead[34]
Glenwood Generating Station125feet61931Glenwood LandingDemolished; height excludes stacks on roof of building
The Omni122feet101990Uniondale
Long Beach Terrace101965Long BeachTwo towers[35]
Renaissance Condominiums101985Long Beach[36]
Hyatt Regency Long Island101986Happauge[37]
Seapointe Towers101988Long Beach[38]
Islandia Marriott Long Island101988IslandiaNow Jake's 58 Casino Hotel[39] [40]
White Sands of Long Beach102004Long Beach[41]
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center120feet1959West Islip[42]
Montauk Point Lighthouse110feetN/A1796MontaukTallest building in Town of East Hampton
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Building 25110feet10Brentwood[43]
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Buildings 81 and 82110feet9BrentwoodTwo towers
John P. Cohalan, Jr. Courthouse91992Central Islip
Courthouse Corporate Center92003Central Islip[44]
The Financial Center91986East Meadow
Garden City Hotel91983Garden City[45] [46]
Wyndham Condominiums91989Garden CityTwo buildings
Morgan Parc Apartments92020Mineola
Long Island MacArthur Airport old control tower107feet71963RonkonkomaAt right in photo; demolished in 2015[47] [48]
St. Patrick Catholic Church106feetN/A1900Glen Cove[49]
Neptune Towers106feet101968Long Beach[50]
Belmont Park Grandstand105feetN/A1968Elmont[51] [52]
Republic Airport control tower100feetN/Aca. 1970East Farmingdale[53]
666 Old Country Road100feet81980Uniondale[54] [55]
UBS Arena100feetN/A2021Elmont[56]

Other structures

At least 300 feet

data-sort-type="text" NameImagedata-sort-type="number" Heightdata-sort-type="number" Openeddata-sort-type="text" LocationNotesdata-sort-type="number" CoordinatesRefs
WFTY-DT tower681feet1984Middle IslandTallest structure on Long Island, Suffolk County, and Town of Brookhaven[57]
WLNY-TV tower642feet1985Middle Island
Northport Power Station620feet1967Fort SalongaTallest structure in Town of Huntington
WEHM tower510feet1998Manorville
American Tower tower5002000IslipTallest structure in Town of Islip
RCA Radio Central antennas450feet1921Rocky PointDemolished[58]
Port Jefferson Power Station434feet1948Port Jefferson[59]
KeySpan weather tower420feet1973JamesportTallest structure in Town of Riverhead
KeySpan weather tower420feet1973Wading River
Univision tower414feet2014Central Islip
Grandview Development tower393feet2006Hauppauge
Covanta Hempstead
(American Ref-Fuel)
382feet1989UniondaleTallest structure in Nassau County and Town of Hempstead[60] [61]
Suffolk County Police Department tower380feet1998Hauppauge
Village of Greenport tower377feet1997GreenportTallest structure in Town of Southold
WHLI towers361feet1985, 2006HempsteadTwo towers[62]
Altice USA tower360feet1969Greenport
Altice USA tower353feet1969East HamptonTallest structure in Town of East Hampton
High-Tower Communications tower350feet1993Farmingville
E. F. Barrett Power Station350feet1963Barnum Island
Suffolk County Water Authority tank341feet2006Stony Brook
Pinnacle Towers tower329feet1965Dix Hills
WWSK tower327feet1998Brentwood
Altice USA tower327feet1966Riverhead
Altice USA tower327feet1969SouthamptonTallest structure in Town of Southampton
WALK-FM tower327feet2002Farmingville
Communications Leasing tower325feet1982PlainviewTallest structure in Town of Oyster Bay
WNET tower325feet2004Plainview
WBWD tower324feet1969Islip
Communications Leasing tower320feet1975Plainview
Mackay Radio Tower319feet1995Napeague
American Towers tower310feet1957Sag Harbor
WRCN-FM tower308feet1982Manorville
AT&T tower308feet1996Noyack
Communications Leasing tower305feet1985Selden
Catholic Faith Network tower
(Telicare tower)
304feet2004Central Islip

Other notable structures at least 100 feet

data-sort-type="text" NameImagedata-sort-type="number" Heightdata-sort-type="number" Openeddata-sort-type="text" LocationNotesdata-sort-type="number" CoordinatesRefs
Glenwood Generating Station265feet1931Glenwood LandingDemolished[63]
Wardenclyffe Tower187feet1901ShorehamDemolished; built by Nikola Tesla[64]
AN/FPS-35 radar tower>118feet1960MontaukConcrete base is high
Dish height is
[65] [66]
Great South Bay Bridge1954Great South Bay
Fire Island Inlet Bridge1964Fire Island Inlet

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Egan. Matthew. 2016-03-01. The struggle to build bigger in Nassau and Suffolk. 2021-06-08. The Real Deal New York. en-US.
  2. News: Korman. Richard. 2005-12-16. The Defining Line. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-09. 0362-4331. The triangle [of the living room] is in New York City. The rest of the room is on Long Island..
  3. Web site: Johnston. Daniel. 2018-12-13. The Failed Lighthouse Project and How it Led to the Islanders New Arena. 2021-06-08. The Impact.
  4. Web site: 2020-01-31. Nassau Hub Quarter 4 Development Report. 2021-06-08. RXR Realty/Onexim Sports and Entertainment. 3, 8.
  5. News: Lambert. Bruce. 1999-11-14. For the Few, a Breathtaking View; The Island Has Largely Resisted High-Rise Creep. But, Oh, the Scenery.... en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-04. 0362-4331.
  6. News: Morris. Tom. 1974-09-22. Up There! In the Air! It's Our Skyline!. 2021-06-05. Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 190. en. . Pages 2, 3, 4..
  7. News: 1982-04-25. The tallest on Long Island. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-04. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Tallest buildings in Stony Brook. https://web.archive.org/web/20210604212300/https://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/101560/stony-brook-ny-usa. June 4, 2021. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  9. News: Lambert, Jr.. Brudge. 1981-06-06. Taller Skyline for Mitchel Field. 2021-06-05. Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 7. en.
  10. Web site: Tallest buildings in East Meadow. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507062118/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/101729/east-meadow-ny-usa. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  11. Web site: Buildings in Central Islip. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507063912/http://www.emporis.com/city/103133/central-islip-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  12. News: Saslow. Linda. 2008-05-18. Jones Beach Tower Set for Restoration. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-04. 0362-4331.
  13. Web site: Edgewood Hospital: Buildings. 2021-06-05. Edgewoodhospital.com.
  14. Web site: High-rise buildings in Deer Park. https://web.archive.org/web/20160506234334/http://www.emporis.com/city/107104/deer-park-ny-usa/type/high-rise-buildings. May 6, 2016. dead. 2021-04-06. Emporis.
  15. Web site: 2008-06-27. Robert Moses State Park Celebrates 100th Anniversary. 2021-06-04. New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
  16. Web site: Buildings in Kings Park. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507054712/http://www.emporis.com/city/115497/kings-park-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  17. Web site: 2013-09-21. Kings Park Psychiatric Center – Building 93. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921031507/http://www.kingsparkpsychiatriccenter.com/building93.htm. 2013-09-21. 2021-06-05.
  18. Web site: Buildings in Huntington. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507034038/http://www.emporis.com/city/109337/huntington-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  19. Web site: Buildings in Uniondale. https://web.archive.org/web/20210605000110/https://www.emporis.com/city/103109/uniondale-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. June 5, 2021. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  20. Web site: Buildings in Hauppauge. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507044001/http://www.emporis.com/city/107191/hauppauge-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  21. Web site: 2011-04-01. H. Lee Dennison Building: Case summary. 2021-06-17. Suffolk County Department of Public Works.
  22. Web site: History: 1917 to 1951. 2021-06-05. The Cathedral of St. Agnes. en-US.
  23. Web site: History. 2021-06-05. Cathedral of the Incarnation.
  24. Web site: Lighthouses in Fire Island. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507055852/http://www.emporis.com/city/103264/fire-island-ny-usa/type/light-houses. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  25. Web site: 2013-09-21. Kings Park Psychiatric Center – Building 7. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921033305/http://www.kingsparkpsychiatriccenter.com/building7.htm. 2013-09-21. 2021-06-05.
  26. Web site: 2019-10-30. Kings Park Psychiatric Center, Building 7. 2021-06-18. Do Not Look Down. en.
  27. Web site: Armaghan. Sarah. 2015-09-15. Aging control tower at Long Island MacArthur Airport soon to be torn down. 2021-06-20. Newsday. en.
  28. Web site: Buildings in East Garden City. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507142928/http://www.emporis.com/city/163147/east-garden-city-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  29. Web site: Buildings in Hempstead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160506235823/http://www.emporis.com/city/102888/hempstead-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 6, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  30. Web site: Camurati. Amelia. 2018-01-15. North Shore University Hospital plans $342 million extension. 2021-06-18. The Island Now. en-US.
  31. Web site: Buildings in Manhasset. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507061605/http://www.emporis.com/city/106757/manhasset-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  32. Web site: Buildings in Long Beach. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507063044/http://www.emporis.com/city/105283/long-beach-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  33. Web site: Winzelberg. David. 2020-11-03. AvalonBay sells its Long Beach rental complex for $54M. 2021-06-05. Long Island Business News. en-US.
  34. Web site: Buildings in Mineola. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507072157/http://www.emporis.com/city/105918/mineola-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  35. Web site: Long Beach Terrace Co-Op. 2021-06-05. LB Homes.
  36. Web site: Renaissance Condo. 2021-06-05. LB Homes.
  37. Web site: Hyatt Regency Long Island. 2021-06-18. Travel Weekly. en.
  38. Web site: Seapointe Towers Co-Op. 2021-06-05. LB Homes.
  39. Web site: Islandia Marriott Long Island. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507072512/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/216258/islandia-marriott-long-island-islandia-ny-usa . 2016-05-07 . 2022-10-14. Emporis.
  40. https://jakes58.com/contact-us/ Jake's 58 Casino Hotel; Contact Us
  41. Web site: White Sands Condo. 2021-06-05. LB Homes.
  42. News: Paquette. Carole. 2001-02-11. Modernization Picks Up Speed at Aging Hospitals. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-18. 0362-4331.
  43. Web site: Tallest buildings in Brentwood. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507055447/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/104467/brentwood-ny-usa. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  44. Web site: Courthouse Corporate Center. 2021-06-18. LoopNet. en.
  45. News: Winerip. Michael. 1983-05-15. Garden City Hotel returns in grand style. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-18. 0362-4331.
  46. Web site: Buildings in Garden City. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507071635/http://www.emporis.com/city/103740/garden-city-ny-usa/status/all-buildings. May 7, 2016. dead. 2021-06-04. Emporis.
  47. Web site: Tadesse. Marco. 2020-01-26. The History of Long Island MacArthur Airport. 2021-06-20. Coast Private. en-US.
  48. Web site: 2006-12-14. MacArthur Airport Tower in Trouble. 2021-06-20. Newsday. Aviation Pros.
  49. Web site: Russel. Daniel E.. The Bells of St Patrick's. 2021-06-05. Glen Cove Heritage.
  50. Web site: Neptune Towers Co-Op. 2021-06-05. LB Homes.
  51. Web site: Belmont Park: Facility Details. 2021-06-04. New York Racing Association. en.
  52. Web site: Kachejian. Brian. 2018-01-04. History of Belmont Park Racetrack. 2021-06-18. Classic New York History. en-us.
  53. Web site: 2008. Fairchild-Republic Aviation: The Jet Age. 2021-06-21. Long Island Republic Airport Historical Society.
  54. Web site: 666 Old Country Rd. 2021-06-18. LoopNet. en.
  55. Web site: Morgan. Jerry. 1978-10-31. 9-Story Building Set For Roosevelt Field. 2021-06-05. Newsday. en.
  56. Web site: O'Leary. Matt. 2018-12-06. New York Islanders New Arena Dimensions Leaked. 2021-06-04. Eyes On Isles. en-US.
  57. Web site: Antenna Structure Registration: Suffolk County, New York. 2021-06-06. U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  58. Web site: RCA Radio Central. 2021-06-05. Rocky Point Historical Society. en-US.
  59. Web site: 2021-06-17. VFR Raster Charts: New York. 2021-06-05. U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. en-us.
  60. Web site: Solnik. Claude. 2005-02-04. American Ref-Fuel to be sold for $2 billion. 2021-06-06. Long Island Business News. en-US.
  61. Web site: 2016-07-13. DEC Permit Conditions Renewal. 2021-06-04. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 33.
  62. Web site: Antenna Structure Registration: Nassau County, New York. 2021-06-06. U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  63. Web site: 25 June 2012. Alternative Use Analysis: Glenwood Power Station No. 2. Louis Berger Group, Inc.. 9. 2021-06-04. (Document starts on page 27 of file.)
  64. Web site: Stiefel. Natalie Aurucci. Nikola Tesla at Wardenclyffe. 2021-06-05. Tesla Memorial Society of New York.
  65. Web site: Rattiner. Dan. 2014-11-06. Camp Hero: Defending Montauk from the Nazis. 2021-06-10. Dan’s Papers. en-US.
  66. Web site: Montauk Air Force Station. 2021-06-10. The Historical Marker Database. en.